Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-10-21

"Number 25."

There was lille hanging back on the
part Of the usual prompt official, but In
moment more q tall, fine-looking
woman strobe defantly up, and, plac-
ing, herself before the judge, awaited
the usual questioning.
There was something SO piteously des-
perate in the prisoners appearance, and
her great hunted eyes had look Of such
anguish in their fierce depths, that the
Judge accustomed to all kinds Of sad
sights and sounds, yet hesitated mo-
ment before asking, with unwonied
gentleness:
"What is your name, my woman, and
where were YOU born:"
Me name Is Alcen Byrne, yer honor,
an were born ia Aberdeen, of the
Scottish coastland"
"And you are charged with strikinga
mang"
81 am, yer honor, an Ncn wcel |
stIicht the mon."
And you meant tor"
IL did, indeed. yer honor. | only
wish might Kilt him.
"Tbat would hardly have been Tor
your good, Aleen."
"lle's Kilt me, yer honor
The woman spoke with a low impas-
stoned wall, which caused respectful
silence even in the lower court, where
touching torres were often UNDECIDED.
"McGinnis testifies that he never laid
hand on you," returned the judge,
"He stabbed me to the heart, yer hon
or, an the mon kens IL we'll"
stabbed your Suppose you tell ms
about it,
81 will, m me voice will sarve me.
Ye micht no ken wha' IL Is. yer honor,
to hev one bonnie laddie, an none else
ye cauld yer ain. ! left the guide father
o me lad a.sleepin' In the kirkyard
when b. ought me wee sonnie To this
land. They say this be countrle iiowin'
wi milk an honey, but oh, yer honor, It
hows wi milk an honey for some, an
for others. mind me, IL flows WI n very
sea o. poison.
"For mony year after reacht these
shores toiled In sun an shade, but
wha' greeted myself for a the toll so
long as me winsome Robbie were thrv.
In an geitin' n muckle o lesrnin' fra
his books! He growed so fine an' tall
that soon he were ta'an to a gentleman's
store to help wi the Grants an to mind
the counter betimes. Then the mon
McGInnis set his evil eye on the lad. I
was forced 10 pass his den on my way TO
an fra the bread store, an he minded't
was meseP hated the uncsnny look o.
the place. An one morn as ] passet by,
lac said ] needn't be SO gran sboot me
by, he was no above ta'e sup OF liquor
WI the rest o. an cen. begged mo
childt for the love o. God TO let the stoof
alone. Me Robbie doin' no ili, an
promised TO bide by me will an wishes,
but the mon McGinnis watched o. when't
was cauld an stormih', an' he gave the
lad mony cup o. his dretful drinks,
to warm him, he would say. got upon
me knees to me ain childt, an prayed
him to pass the place no more, but TO
come home by some ither road. Then ]
went myself to the mon wiout soul In
his body, an p'raps ye ken, yer honor, n
mither would beg an pray for the bone
O her bone, an the flesh o. her flesh.
But he laughet In my face, an ] runned
from his sicht afore | did him III.
"Las' night, yer honor, the noise at
me door frightenet me, ruined WI all
me micht 10 see wha' were the trouble,
an me Robbie swayed into the room an
fell at me feet-he was dhruDk, yer
honor! Then McGinnIs pokes his face
In at me door an asket, 'Wha' think ye
now, Mistress Byrnep Did mean 10
strike the mon, yer bonory An could J.,
I'd a sthruck the breath fra his body!
Ye'd better keep me WI lock an key the
ncht till the gloom dies out, but, oil.
jedge. jedge! there's Daugbt to kill the
gnawin' at me heart, an whist meseP
an me lad were In the kIrkyard aside
the guide fatherp'
The woman at the bar extended q
cleDched hand as she added with vehe-
mence:
"They teIled the, an l could prove
the mon sold liquor to the bairn under
age, the law could stoop him. It's my
sell wud like 10 see the law stoop one u
the miserable rumsellers o. the land!
tell ye, jedge, there's Dsugbt but Co.'s
gruesome vengeance can soop his Tx,
an' when that falls it'll crush ye all. It's
a. weel enough to rest the mither a.
sbe strikes the mon rs ruins her ain
chiIdt, but walt ye I'LL the Lord Al
mighty strikes-aye-waity ye for that,
an ye darew
As the threatening voice stllled, the
woman was pronounced discharged, and
after his temperance In court, Nc
Gibnis was lodged ib the county jail on
a charge Of having willfully sold or
given intoxicating drink TO minor. His
comrades declared The evidence on which
he wss convicted TO have been illegal,
slight and uncertain. But the clerk Of
the court was heard to remark that he
believed from his soul the judge was
afraid TO disregard the old witch's warn
ing, and dare not wait for the Lord Al.
mighty TO strike back with graesome
vengeance at them all. Then the clerk
added:
"But she did have q knell Of fiery
doom, did that No. CSrsfidp at
Work.